Philippines

The Philippines is an island country in the Pacific Ocean. Geographically speaking, it is a part of Southeast Asia. Philippines is composed of three island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The capital city is Manila and it’s in the Luzon island.

Philippines has been inhabited for around 67,000 years. The country once was a colony of Spanish empire. So, it has derived most of its culture, religion, and language from them.

Things To Do in the Philippines

As the Philippine tourism tagline goes, “It’s more fun in the Philippines”, it istruly more fun in the Philippines! It has 7,641 islands. This would simply mean that there is a thousand of things to do and places to explore in the Philippines.

Philippines is known for its pristine beaches, crazy adventures, scenic views, rich culture, and of course, its hospitable and friendly people.

Philippines caters to different kinds of travelers: may it be those who are a thrill-seeker, or nature-lovers, or beach bums, and/or those who are food and culture lovers. We’ll squeeze all of these in this blog to give you an idea for your next Philippine travel destination.

For Thrill-Seekers

Cagayan de Oro

Cagayan de Oro is one of the thrill-seeker’s hub in Mindanao. It is famous for their White Water Rafting. Tour packages are already available and can be accessed online. Prices could range from US$ 23 – US$ 40.

Photo: Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

Badian, Cebu

One of the most popular destinations in Badian, Cebu is the Kawasan Falls. Canyoneering is one of the craziest things to do in the Philippines! Get enough strength to jump from 50-60 feet! (Price range: US$ 29 – US$ 35)

For Nature-Lovers

Batanes

Batanes is the ultimate travel destination of every Filipino – and also those who are Filipinos at heart. Way back years ago, there were only a few number of airline companies that offers a Batanes route. As a result, a one-way ticket could go up as high as US$ 365. Good thing, more airline companies opened a Batanes route, and others are selling it at a promo price. A one-way ticket could cost US$115.

Batanes is renowned as the New Zealand of the Northern Philippines because of its attractions that are very much comparable to New Zealand. If you’re up to some relaxation and you’d want to experience living a simple life, Batanes is the perfect place for you!

Trivia: Batanes has the smallest number of population and land area.

Tip: Batanes is also called as the Home of the Winds. Before trying to get a ticket to Batanes, do not forget to check a 2-week weather forecast. There are times when there are no available flights due to a bad weather.

Bohol

Have you ever heard of the chocolate hills? Wait, wait… Don’t take it literally! Chocolate hills in Bohol got its name because the green grass cover of these hills turn to brown during dry or summer season. Aside from Chocolate Hills, there are also other nature-rrific attractions that you can enjoy in Bohol. There’s Balicasag Island, a preserved sanctuary where you could dive in and experience an aquarium-like scene; Panglao Beach, the perfect place to see the sunset; the Man-made forest, and a lot more.

For Beach Scanners

Palawan

Palawan is the home of one of the world’s wonders – the Puerto Princesa Underground River. There are 3 famous islands in Palawan that tourists mostly visit: Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron. El Nido is famous for its awesome rock formations that really matches with the bright blue-colored sea. While Coron, on the other hand, is famous for its diving sites as well as its marine. Common things to do in Palawan are: kayaking, scuba diving, and island hopping.

Puerto Princesa Underground River

Siargao

Siargao is a remote island in Surigao del Norte, a part of Mindanao. Recently, Siargao became a famous tourist destination in the Philippines because of its scenic views, islands, and most especially, it, being a surfing spot.

For Culture-Lovers

Vigan

If you want to experience the culture of Philippines, Vigan is the perfect place for you. Vigan is one of the few towns left to have old structures that are still intact. This is said to be the best example of a Spanish colonial town where the structure and the location is well-planned. Not to mention, Vigan is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Calle Crisologo, Vigan

Ilo-ilo

Like Vigan, Ilo-ilo also, has preserved its culture, and this is evidenced by intact Spanish-inspired structures. When you search for what to see in Ilo-ilo, do not fret if it results to a ton of old and vintage churches. Do not forget to visit the Miagao Church, as it is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.

Manila

Manila has the greatest contribution in the Philippine history because Manila was and is the center of major activities in the aspect of politics, economics, social, and cultural. Even if Manila rapidly adapted to modern ways and trends, they still preserved the culture of the Philippines, and this is widely evidenced by the Intramuros – one of the heritage sites in Manila. Oldie, but goodie.

Intramuros

Getting Around in the Philippines

There is a wide array of options when we speak of modes of transportation in the Philippines. Jeepneys are the most accessible means of transport when getting around the major cities in the Philippines. Aside from jeepneys, options like Grab and Uber are also popular transports, but only in selected cities. You could always check the availability of Grab and Uber in your Philippine destination online.

Car rental service is available as well. However, hiring a car with a driver is more common, due to the bad road condition and heavy traffic, which require much driving experience and patience. The Filipinos drive on the right side of the road. Keep in mind, though, if you drive solo, you should avoid driving off the main highways at night, as it can be very dangerous.

Language

The national language is Filipino. English is also widely popular. The predominant religion is Christianity. In fact, it is the only Christian dominated country in Asia.

Currency

The currency is the Philippine Peso. The approximate rate is 50 PHP for 1 US Dollar. The exchange of Pounds Sterling and US dollars is available at banks, hotels, and some retail outlets in Manila. However, outside the capital, it might be harder to exchange money. Credit cards are acceptable in major facilities within large cities. MasterCard and Visa are the most popular ones. There are numerous ATMs in cities and major tourist areas, but it is better to check the availability of ATM in your area of destination, before arrival.

Electricity

Philippines use type A sockets, as in the USA. Check out the above-linked page to see the photos and other useful information. The standard voltage is 220 V. Many of your devices may need a step-up transformer to match the electrical voltage.